Aylesbury Liberal Democrats

That is the view of Aylesbury Vale District Council’s Liberal Democrats after Wednesday night’s Council meeting, where the budget for 2007/8 was approved by the ruling Conservative and Independent Administration

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Councillor Ian Metherell said, “This is the last budget of a tired administration. It has run out of ideas. There are no new initiatives; no redirection of resources. There was nothing to consult the public about and we didn’t even need to hold the second, planned Members’ seminar on the budget as it was so lacking in anything new.”

Speaking during the debate, Cllr Metherell said, “I wish I could criticise the Tory Budget because it is going in the wrong direction, but it has no direction. I wish I could criticise it because it is based on misguided political vision, but it has no vision. I wish I could criticise it because it misuses resources on the wrong set of priorities, but it has no priorities.

“The only objective seems to have been to avoid capping by the Government.

“The only way to balance the books has been for the Administration to take Ł1.2 million from the Council’s balances and plan to take another Ł3 million over the next four years. That is not the best path to follow.”

Liberal Democrats abstained from supporting the budget, and put forward their own views on what the District really needs. Councillor Metherell outlined the Liberal Democrat programme, as follows:

“Aylesbury Vale needs a programme focussed on environmental issues, with real, faster progress on recycling; with genuine investment in developing the local economy to reverse recent job losses and encourage new businesses to start up here. Liberal Democrats will reverse the decline in the council’s commercial properties and provide facilities for new businesses to get started in smaller premises.

“Liberal Democrats will work more closely with town and parish councils and in genuine partnership with the County Council – not at loggerheads as this administration has been.

“Liberal Democrats will ensure that powers and responsibilities are devolved from the County to the Districts and from Districts to those towns and parishes who want them. It is time to transfer to Aylesbury Town Council the assets, such as the town’s parks, recreation grounds, open spaces and community centres, that are paid for by the people of Aylesbury through the Special Expenses.

“There are great opportunities ahead to provide the public with better services, coordinated to be more effective and delivering savings on Council Tax. We need a new administration in May in touch with residents and their needs, with a new vision and a strategy.

Aylesbury Liberal Democrats

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Aylesbury Vale District Council has no direction, no vision and no priorities
7th February 2007

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